Mira's P.O.V.

The blazing heat and sunshine were still going strong when the day of the Luau arrived. The morning sun pleasantly warmed my back as I watered my plants and weeded the area around my pond. Admittedly, it was nice to take shelter in the cool shade of the chicken coop, and Lyra was already starting to produce her first eggs. "Good girl," I patted her fluffy head with a smile and she clucked happily.

I'd been hanging out with the other villagers around my age since my day out with Leah. I was having so much fun that I'd all but forgotten about the situation with Shane. I hadn't seen him around, either, but I didn't suppose it had anything to do with me – he didn't want to be my friend anymore, and I'd managed to fit in to the village, so I didn't really pay it much thought anymore. On one of the more recent days out with my friends, Haley suggested that we should all go to the upcoming Luau together at the beach. "That sounds like a great idea!" I'd told her. I didn't really know what the Luau entailed, but I wouldn't miss a fun day on the beach with my friends for the world. The weather certainly didn't disappoint, and I'd harvested a fresh cob of corn that morning. I was ready to head down to the beach.

"Heeeeey! Mira!" Leah waved from the beach's entrance when she caught sight of me. I ran over to the group and we walked down together. Leah and Penny were to my left with Maru and Elliot to the right of me, off in their own little world. I was almost envious. As we made our way onto the beach I could see Haley and Alex on the tiki-style dance floor, dancing together… Well, trying to. "Ugh! Alex! You, like, stepped on my foot again!"

"Sorry, babe."

"How am I supposed to be crowned Dancing Queen if you can't even get it right?!"

"It's fine babe, I've totally got it covered," I could see the sweat pouring down Alex's apologetic face, and giggled to myself. Some things never change. Sebastian and Sam were talking down by the leftmost pier, and as they caught sight of me Sebastian offered a small wave. I waved back with a smile, but as we approached the centre of the beach, my eyes fixed on something. Something scruffy. Something clad in blue. Something stuffing its face with pepper poppers at the buffet table. I felt a little uneasy all of a sudden and my footsteps slowed. I wanted to turn back… I wanted to leave. No… I'm not hurting anyone. This is fine. I clenched my fist and continued to walk with my friends. Suddenly, though, Shane's head raised as he saw group movement from the corner of his eye. His eyes met mine; his face dropped. Before I knew it, he'd turned around and briskly walked to the other side of the beach, just in sight next to Willy's shack. He didn't turn back after that… He just stood there. So… He really is avoiding me… My heart sank. I told myself I didn't care anymore but in truth, how could I not care? We were so close and then out of nowhere…

"Mira!" Once again, Leah snapped me out of my brood. "We're going to add our ingredients to the soup. You coming?"

"Oh! Y-yeah!" I took the head of corn out of my backpack, its crisp leaves unfurling to reveal the golden gem-like pieces of corn that lay beneath. We walked towards the pot and one by one gave our ingredients to Mayor Lewis, then waited for him to add the finishing touches. I was wishing he'd hurry up – I suddenly felt… angsty. I felt like eyes were on me – and sure enough, they were. I glanced to my left and Shane quickly averted his gaze from me. Feeling self-conscious, I slinked behind my friends to hide from sight. Please hurry this up, Lewis…

"Alright, the soup is ready, everyone!" Lewis cheered, "grab a bowl from Marnie and let's chow down!"

"Well finally!" Sam called across the beach overexcitedly, clearly hungry. "C'mon, Seb, let's go!"

"Yeah, yeah…"

After we each grabbed a bowl of soup, we headed to stand near the dance floor as a group. Sam guzzled all of his soup down in one, of course. "Damn, that was good! Can I get seconds?"

"Ew, this is like, totally disgusting…" Haley glared down into her bowl with disdain. Sebastian and I were the last to try the soup. We each slowly raised the bowls to our lips, taking a sip. We gave each other a knowing look – the soup was definitely… Interesting. Chunks of melon and anchovy swam about in a thick brown goop. I wasn't entirely sure how anyone could stomach a whole bowl.

"Maybe the Mayor should hand out ingredient lists next time…" I laughed awkwardly.

"Not a bad idea." Sebastian chuckled quietly.

The afternoon sky swirled in blue and pink, and everyone had settled into a quiet chatter. I found myself glancing down the beach again – Shane was still stood alone. Did he even eat? Did my presence really put him off…? Argh, I can't stand it anymore. I put my bowl down on the golden sand and started to head over to Shane when a thin arm got in my way. "Mira. No." Leah said shortly.

"But, Leah… I'm tired of this. I just want to—"

"Don't you remember how he treated you?" Leah cut me off mid-sentence. I had nothing to say – I couldn't justify how he spoke to me. I didn't even know why… But I couldn't carry on like this. I was bound to run into him eventually, and I knew he wasn't a bad person. I looked over at my friends – their cold gazes were all on me. My stomach dropped.

"That guy's a total creep, Mira," Haley flicked her hair with her perfect manicure, pursing her pink lips in disgust. "He obviously had some motive for talking to you and when he didn't get it he, like, kicked you to the curb, girl."

"She's right, Mira…" Sam chimed in, more sombre than usual. "Shane's not a nice guy. Trust me. I work with him."

But you don't know him like I do…

"He uses alcohol as an excuse to treat people poorly," Maru said sternly, waving a finger. "I can't approve of that at all, especially not against you, Mira."

But…

I felt ganged up on. I withdrew myself and wrapped my arms around me, glancing at Sebastian longingly, hoping for some sort of support. Sebastian averted his gaze from mine before taking a last puff on his cigarette and stomping it out on the sand. "Dude's never not drinking." His quiet voice said. "Clearly something not right about him." Seb… Even you…? I stood in silence. What could I say? My eyes shifted uneasily from face to face. It was like they were set in stone – no one let up on their stern expressions. "Besides, Mira…" Leah moved forward and placed her hand on my shoulder. But it wasn't like before, when she was comforting me. It was somehow… More authoritative. "I thought you liked hanging out with us."

Ah… So that's how it is… I had to stop myself from scoffing. It was like a shot in the heart. I'd apparently landed myself where the grass is supposedly greener by falling out with Shane and I'd never even noticed. It all felt so cliquey, like school – us and them. I didn't like it at all. But I felt powerless to do or say anything to oppose it. "…You're right." And maybe they were. Shane hurt me, all right. I didn't really know how to feel either way at that point. I just felt… Pressured. And isolated. Almost like I was lying to myself.

"Good," Leah sighed, brushing the topic aside. "shall we go, then?"

We turned our backs on the beach and made our way back into town. Together, yet so very alone.

Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you're having a great day! See you soon! ~Nyannygiri